Prepayment device for the remote control of a dispenser

ABSTRACT

A prepayment device for the remote control of an apparatus for dispensing a product, notably liquid fuel, comprising a pulse emitter driven from a volumetric counter and producing a number of pulses proportional to the quantity of product delivered by an apparatus, and a remote control unit comprising essentially a money-collecting device adapted to receive coins and/or banknotes, and emitting at its output end electric pulses, the number of which corresponds to the monetary value of the coins and/or banknotes introduced into said collecting device, and a counter having two progression directions and comprising a first counting input connected to the output of said collecting device, and a second reverse counting input connected to the output of the emitter driven from the volumetric counter of the dispensing apparatus.

I United States Patent 11113539 491 [72] Inventor Edouard DeCrepy [56]ReferencesCited I N f UNITED STATES PATENTS 3285 381 11/1966 Robbins 22220x [221 Ned 94969 3,365,045 1/1968 Guttmann Cial. 194 13 [45] Patented[73] Assignee June 29, 1971 Socicte Anonyme Francaise des AppareilsAutomatiquesTaxjmetres-Taxiphones S.A.F.A.A.

Paris, France [32] Priority July 10, 1968 [33] France [54] PREPAYMENTDEVICE FOR THE REMOTE Primary Examiner-Stanley H. TollbergAttorney-Holman, Glascock, Downing and Seebold comprising a pulseemitter driven from a volumetric counter and producing a number ofpulses proportional to the quantity 1 of product delivered by anapparatus, and a remote control unit comprising essentially amoney-collecting device adapted to receive coins and/or banknotes, andemitting at its output end electric pulses, the number of whichcorresponds to the F EF monetary value of the coins and/or banknotesintroduced into said collecting device, and a counter having twoprogression [52] US. Cl .r 194/5 directions and comprising a firstcounting input connected to [51] lnt.Cl G07! 13/00 the output of saidcollecting device, and a second reverse [50] Field of Search 194/3, 13,counting input connected to the output of the emitter driven 5; 222/20from the volumetric counter of the dispensing apparatus.

is 1 a 11 2a 140 20 PREPAYMENT DEVICE FOR THE REMOTE CONTROL OF ADISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates toprepayment devices for the remote control of an apparatus for dispensinga liquid, gaseous, pulverulent or other product,to be deliveredcontinuously or intermittently.

This invention is concerned more particularly but not exclusively with adevice for the remote control of a liquid fuel dispensing apparatus. Infact, in this case if the prepayment device is to be designed to acceptbanknotes, it must include electronic means that cannot be enclosed inan antideflagration enclosure housed within the dispensing apparatus ordisposed in close vicinity of this apparatus, as required by safetyregulations from public services for liquid fuel dispensing apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the essential object of this invention toavoid this difficulty.

To this end, the prepayment device according to this invention for theremote control of an apparatus for dispensing a product, notably liquidfuel, said apparatus comprising an electric motor driving a member fordispensing said product and a volumetric counter constantly showing thequantity of product delivered by the apparatus, is characterized in thatit comprises a pulse emitter driven from said volumetric counter andproducing a number of pulses proportional to the quantity of productdelivered by the apparatus, and a remote control unit comprisingessentially a money-collecting device adapted to receive coins and/orbanknotes, and emitting at its output end electric pulses, the number ofwhich corresponds to the monetary value of the coins and/or banknotesintroduced into said collectingdevice, and a counter having twoprogression directions and comprising a first counting input connectedto the output of said collecting device, and a secondreversecountinginput connected to the output of said collecting device, and a secondreverse-counting input connected to the output of the emitter drivenfrom the volumetric counter of the dispensing apparatus, the counter ofthe remote control unit further comprising a plurality of outputterminals connected to a device controlling the energization of theelectric motor of the dispensing apparatus and also to memberscontrolling the outflow of the product, whereby the dispensing apparatuscan be started automatically and capable of dispensing the quantity ofproduct corresponding to the monetary value of the coins and/orbanknotes introduced into the collecting device of the remote controlunit.

In case of the automatic distribution of liquid fuel, according to thepresent invention the money-collecting device equipped with electronicmeans for analyzing the banknotes can be installed outside the areaconsidered as dangerous near or around the dispensing apparatus proper,and inside this apparatus a compact antidefiagration device of a typeeasily adaptable to commercial counters. A simple solution consists forexample in adapting to the counter wheel measuring the smallestquantities (ie the hundredth) a toothed wheel revolving in closeproximity to an electromagnetic pickup constituting a pulse transmitterand connected to the remote control unit.

Thus, with this invention it is possible to sell automatically liquids,notably liquid fuels, by quantities corresponding to the banknotes andcoins previously introduced into the prepayment device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A typical form of embodiment of theinvention will now be described by way of example with reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the essential component elements andcircuitry of a prepayment device for the remote control of a liquidfuel-dispensing apparatus, and

FIG. 2 is a diagramillustrating a specific form of embodiment of oneportion of the installation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1, thereis shown diagrammatically therein an apparatus for dispensing liquidfuel which comprises essentially a pump 1 driven from an electric motor2 and drawing the liquid fuel from a tank 3, a volumetric counter 4connected to the supply pipeline 5, a main electromagnetic valve 6 and alow-output electromagnetic valve 7, both valves being connected inmutual parallel relationship downstream of the volumetric counter 4, anda dispensing nozzle or similar device 8.

A pulse emitter 9 is rotatably driven from the volumetric counter 4 andadapted to deliver a number of pulses proportional to the volume of fueldispensed by the apparatus. The coefficient of proportionality is thecost of the liquid fuel to be sold. This coefficient is introduced bymeans of a mechanical connecting device 11 interposed between thevolumetric counter 4 and the pulse emitter 9. This pulse emitter 9 maybe of any known and suitable type, for example of the. electric,photoelectric, magnetic, electromagnetic release type, etc.

The pulse emitter 9 is connected to axremote control unit designated bythe reference numeral 12 as being contained in the dashline rectangledenoted by this numeral. This unit is installed at a certain distancefrom the dispensing apparatus proper, and comprises essentiallyamoney-collecting device 13 and a counter 14 having two progressiondirections.

The collecting device 13 comprises one or a plurality of slots 10 forreceiving the banknotes, and one or a plurality of slots ll5 forreceiving the coins. This collecting device 13 further comprises anelectronic unit 16 of known construction capable of analyzing thebanknotes introduced through the slot 10 so as to detect their actualmonetary value and to convert this value, as well as that of the coinsintroduced through the slots 15, into a series of pulses fed at itsoutput end to a conductor 17.

The number of pulses emitted through this output conductor 17 isproportional to the value of the coins and/or banknotes introduced intothe apparatus. Thus, for instance two dollarnote introduced into theapparatus, will cause, upon completion of the decoding operationperformed by the electronic analyzer 16, for example 10 pulses to be fedto conductor 17. Similarly, a 1 dollar coin introduced into theapparatus is attended by the transmission of 5 pulses.

The collecting device 13 also comprises a refund or coinretum button 18adapted to be depressed by the user before the latter has begun to takeliquid fuel from the apparatus and wishes to recover the banknotesand/or coins previously introduced into the apparatus. Thus, depressingthe button 18 will cause the banknotes and/or coins to be dropped into adrawer l9 and simultaneously the emission of a specific signal forresetting the apparatus to zero via an output conductor 21.

Both conductors l7 and 21 are connected to the counter, the former to acounting input 14a and the latter to a resetting input 14b, thereof thiscounter 14 further comprises another reverse-counting input 14cconnected to the pulse emitter 9 of the dispensing apparatus via aconductor 20 and a device 22 of which the function will be explainedpresently. The counter 14 is also provided with a device 23 fordisplaying the preset number, whereby the user can check at any time thevalue preset in the counter.

The counter 14 which may be of any known and suitable type comprises Nstages, N being the maximum capacity of the counter. Some of thesestages are connected to output terminals where electric signals havingcertain predetermined functions appear. The output 24 of the first stageof counter 14 is connected to the .Stop" input a of a device 25controlling the electric energization of motor 2 draining the pump 1.This output terminal 24 is also connected to a terminal f controllingthe closing of the idle electromagnetic valve 7.

An output terminal 26 of a stage adjacent to said first stage of thecounter, for example the second stage, is connected to one closingterminalfof the main electromagnetic valve 6.

Another output terminal 27 of a stage of row p is connected on the onehand to the ON input m of the device 25 controlling the energization ofelectric motor 22, and on the other hand to the opening terminals of themain and low-output electromagnetic valves 6 and 7, respectively.

Finally, an output terminal 28 of a stage pertaining to row q, (q beinggreater than p and smaller than N) is connected to a device 13a adaptedto block the slots and of the money collecting device 13.

Now the mode of operation of the device of this invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawing.

in the inoperative condition the counter 14 is at zero position and thepump 1 is inoperative as well, both valves 6 and 7 being closed.

When the user is desirous to obtain the delivery of a quantity of liquidfuel corresponding to a sum ofx cents or dollars, he introduces one orseveral coins into the slot 15 of collecting device 13, and/or one ormore banknotes into the slot 14. Upon each introduction and subsequentcollection of a coin and/or banknote, the monetary value thereof isconverted into a proportional number of pulses transmitted via conductor17 and fed to input 14:: of counter 14. This counter will thus totalizex pulses, assuming that each elementary pulse corresponds for instanceto 10 cents, taken for example as the elementary money value. As alreadymentioned hereinabove, the user can recover his money, i.e. the coinsand/or banknotes introduced into the device, by depressing the moneybackbutton 18, unless he has begun to take delivery of the fuel liquid. ifhe depresses the button 18, the coins and/or banknotes are dropped intothe drawer or like receptacle [9 and simultaneously at least one specialresetting pulse is emitted via conductor 21 for resetting the counter14.

Assuming that the user has introduced banknotes and coins for a totalvalue of x cents into the collecting device 13, the counter 14 willtotalize x pulses, as already explained in the foregoing. if this numberx exceeds the value p corresponding to the value set for a minimum fueldelivery, the latter can take place. in fact, when the count registeredin the counter 14 exceeds this value p, the output 27 is energized andstarts the motor 2 driving the pump 1 while opening the twoelectromagnctic valves 6 and 7. Under these conditions, the user caninitiate the dispensing of liquid fuel and the liquid output throughpipe line 5 causes the rotation of the volumetric counter 4. Thiscounter 4 drives in turn, vis mechanical coupling means 11, the pulseemitter 9 so that pulses are fed to conductor and to thereverse-counting terminal 14c. Each pulse corresponds to the delivery ofa quantity of liquid proportional to the elementary value of the money,for example, 10 cents in the case contemplated. The pulses fed to thereverse counting terminal Me cause the counter 14 to be reset orreturned to zero. When the count registered by counter 14 approaches andis nearly zero, the output 26 is energized, thus closing the mainelectromagnetic valve 6, so that the low-output valve 7 alone remainsopen. in other words, this valve 7 allow only a reduced output to passthercthrough, whereby any undesired hammering can be avoided whileincreasing the precision of the fully closed condition. When the counter14 has actually resumed its zero position the output 24 is energized tocontrol the stopping of motor 2 and therefore of pump 1, andsimultaneously the decnergizutlon of the electromagnetic idling valve 7.Thus, the liquid i ucl output is stopped completely and no further pulsecan be emitted.

As explained in the foregoing, the output 28 of the stage correspondingto the registration of value q is connected to the device 130 forblocking the money-collecting device 13. This value q is selected toprevent the maximum capacity of counter 14 from being overstepped at anytime. Thus, for instance, it the counter is set for registering no morethan 45 pulses corresponding to a value of, say 9 dollars, the value qwhereat this blocking action takes place is selected to correspond to36," so that when this value has been registered by the counter 14 thedevice will prevent the user for introducing additional money, such as 2dollars, into the slot 10, since this introduction would cause theapparatus to exceed the counters capacity.

Similarly, the device 22 connected to the pulse emitter 9 detects thefirst pulse emitted thereby and causes immediately the money-collectingdevice 13 to be locked; this device 13 will be unlocked subsequently butonly when the counter 14 is reset to zero. Then, the action ofreturnbutton 18 is neutralized and the user cannot recover his money. Besides,if the tank 3 were emptied during a filling or like dispensingoperation, the device 22 would keep the collecting device 13 in itsblocked condition, thus preventing another user from inserting othercoins and/or banknotes into the device, as long as the pump 1 does notdeliver liquid fuel and the counter 14 has hot been reset.

HO. 2 illustrates some of the component elements of a specific form ofembodiment of the device constituting the subject matter of thisinvention. in this example, the counter 14 having two directions ofprogression comprises a step-bystep motor 29 rotatably driving a disc 31carrying a sequence of numerals moving past a window, whereby theregistration and the display of the values can be obtainedsimultaneously. The motor 29 is connected to conductor 17 receiving thepulses from the money-collecting device 13 and these pulses tend torotate said motor in the increasing or counting direction (clockwisedirection as seen in the figure). The motor 29 is also connected toconductor 20 receiving pulses from emitter 9, these pulses tending torotate the motor in the decreasing or reverse-counting direction(counterclockwise direction as seen in the drawing). The conductor 21receiving the resetting pulses is also connected to motor 29.

The motor shaft drives a stud 32 controlling electric microswitches 24,26, 27 and 28 corresponding to the outputs denoted by the same referencenumerals in FIG. 1. These microswitches provide the various controlactions disclosed hereinabove.

A safety device is provided for reducing to a negligible value theconsequences of a failure in the reverse-counting signals. This devicecomprises a two input electronic circuit 33 of which one input receivesvia a conductor 36 the pulses emitted from an emitter 35 responsive tothe shaft driving the volumetric counter 4. The other input of theelectronic circuit 33 receives pulses produced by a pulse generator 34monitoring the operation of the stcp-by-step motor 29 acting as thecounter 14. This monitoring pulse generator 34 may be of the photoelectric type. it comprises in this case a photocell disposed on oneside of disc 31 and registering with a sequence of holes formed throughthis disc at relative spacings corresponding to the value of one step ofmotor 29, and also of a light source illuminating said cell and disposedon the opposite side of disc 31. Under these conditions, each one-steprotation of motor 29 causes the photocell of pulse generator 34 to emita pulse fed to the electronic circuit 33.

This electronic circuit 33 receives at its two inputs the pulses fromemitters 35 and 34, and operates in such a way as to cause the pulsesreceived from emitter 35 in connection with volumetric counter 4 tocontrol the sensitization" of a cutout circuit inserted in the mainssupply line. On the other hand, the pulses produced by the photoelectricgenerator 34 are adapted to cancel this sensitization.

if the circuit 33 receives several pulses from emitter 35, say threepulses, without receiving any pulse from the photoelectric generator 34,this proves that a fault has occurred in the transmission line. Thus,the cutout circuit operates and the apparatus is rendered inoperative.

it will be readily understood by those conversant with the art thatvarious modifications and variations may be brought to the specificforms embodiment of this invention which are shown and described herein,without departing however from the scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A prepayment device for the remote control of an apparatus fordispensing a product, notably liquid fuel, which comprises a member fordelivering said product, an electric motor driving said member, avolumetric counter displaying the quantity of product delivered by saidmember, a pulse emitter driven from said volumetric counter andproducing a number of pulses proportional to the quantity of productdelivered by said member, a remote control unit comprising amoney-collecting device adapted to receive coins and/or banknotes, andto emit at its output electric pulses the number of which corresponds tothe monetary value of the coins and/or banknotes introduced into saidcollecting device, and a multistage counter having two directions ofprogression and comprising a first counting input connected to theoutput of said collecting device, a second reverse counting inputconnected to the output of the pulse emitter driven from said volumetriccounter and a third resetting input, a plurality of output terminals ofthe respective stages of said counter, a device drivingly connected tosaid member for controlling the energization of said electric motor,said motor energization control device comprising two inputs, namely an0N input and an OFF input respectively, connected to the outputs of afirst stage of row p and of the first stage of said counter of saidremote control unit, and means controlling the outflow of said productwhich are connected to the stage outputs of the counter of said remotecontrol unit, whereby said dispensing apparatus can be startedautomatically and deliver the quantity of product corresponding to thevalue of the coins and/or banknotes introduced into the collectingdevice of said remote control unit.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, which comprises, in said collectingdevice, a coin-return button controlling, as long as the delivery ofsaid product has not begun, the refund of any banknotes and/or coinsintroduced into said collecting device, and also the emission of atleast one resetting pulse fed to the resetting input of the counter ofsaid remote control unit.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, which comprises means for detectingthe emission of the first reverse-counting pulse delivered by the pulseemitter driven from said volumetric counter, and in said collectingdevice a blocking mechanism connected to said first pulse detectingmeans, whereby said collecting device is prevented from receivingfurther coins and/or banknotes when said first reverse-counting pulsehas been emitted.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said collecting deviceblocking mechanism is connected to the output of a stage ofpredetermined row q greater than, said row p, of said counter of saidremote control unit.

5 A device as set forth in claim 1, which comprises, in the case of aliquid product to be dispensed, notably a liquid fuel, a supply pump, anelectric motor drivingly connected to said supply pump, a devicecontrolling the energization of said motor, said last-named controldevice comprising an OFF input connected to the output of the firststage of said remote control unit counter, and an ON input connected tothe output of the counter stage of row p, a low-output electromagneticvalve and a main-output electromagnetic valve, said valves beingconnected in parallel downstream to said supply pump each having a valveopening terminal and a valve closing terminal, the opening terminals ofsaid valves being jointly connected to the row p stage output of saidcounter of the remote control unit, the closing terminal of saidlow-output valve being connectcd to the first stage output of saidcounter and the closing terminal of said main-output valve beingconnected to the output of another stage close to said first stage ofsaid counter, so as to energize said electric motor and open said valveswhen a signal appears at the output of the row p stage of said counter,to close said main-output valve alone when an electric signal is emittedfrom the output of the stage close to said first counter stage, andfinally to stop said motor and close said low-output electromagneticvalve when an electric signal appears at the ougput of the first sta eof said counter.

. A device as set orth m claim 1, which comprises a computer disposedbetween said volumetric counter and said pulse emitter.

7. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the counter of said remotecontrol unit comprises a step-by-step motor having two directions ofrotation, a rotary disc carrying display numerals and driven from saidmotor, a stud rotatably driven from said motor, and microswitchesdisposed around and actuated by said stud.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7, which comprises a generator ofmonitoring pulses rotatably driven from said step-by-step motor, atwo-input electronic device having one input connected to the output ofsaid generator of monitoring pulses and the other input connected to theoutput of said pulse emitter driven from said volumetric counter, saidelectronic device being adapted to emit a signal controlling thestoppage of said dispensing apparatus when a lack of synchronism isdetected thereby between the pulses fed to said two inputs.

1. A prepayment device for the remote control of an apparatus fordispensing a product, notably liquid fuel, which comprises a member fordelivering said product, an electric motor driving said member, avolumetric counter displaying the quantity of product delivered by saidmember, a pulse emitter driven from said volumetric counter andproducing a number of pulses proportional to the quantity of productdelivered by said member, a remote control unit comprising amoney-collecting device adapted to receive coins and/or banknotes, andto emit at its output electric pulses the number of which corresponds tothe monetary value of the coins and/or banknotes introduced into saidcollecting device, and a multistage counter having two directions ofprogression and comprising a first counting input connected to theoutput of said collecting device, a second reverse counting inputconnected to the output of the pulse emitter driven from said volumetriccounter and a third resetting input, a plurality of output terminals ofthe respective stages of said counter, a device drivingly connected tosaid member for controlling the energization of said electric motor,said motor energization control device comprising two inputs, namely anON input and an OFF input respectively, connected to the outputs of afirst stage of row p and of the first stage of said counter of saidremote control unit, and means controlling the outflow of said productwhich are connected to the stage outputs of the counter of said remotecontrol unit, whereby said dispensing apparatus can be startedautomatically and deliver the quantity of product corresponding to thevalue of the coins and/or banknotes introduced into the collectingdevice of said remote control unit.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1,which comprises, in said collecting device, a coin-return buttoncontrolling, as long as the delivery of said product has not begun, therefund of any banknotes and/or coins introduced into said collectingdevice, and also the emission of at least one resetting pulse fed to thereSetting input of the counter of said remote control unit.
 3. A deviceas set forth in claim 1, which comprises means for detecting theemission of the first reverse-counting pulse delivered by the pulseemitter driven from said volumetric counter, and in said collectingdevice a blocking mechanism connected to said first pulse detectingmeans, whereby said collecting device is prevented from receivingfurther coins and/or banknotes when said first reverse-counting pulsehas been emitted.
 4. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein saidcollecting device blocking mechanism is connected to the output of astage of predetermined row q , greater than, said row p, of said counterof said remote control unit.
 5. A device as set forth in claim 1, whichcomprises, in the case of a liquid product to be dispensed, notably aliquid fuel, a supply pump, an electric motor drivingly connected tosaid supply pump, a device controlling the energization of said motor,said last-named control device comprising an OFF input connected to theoutput of the first stage of said remote control unit counter, and an ONinput connected to the output of the counter stage of row p, alow-output electromagnetic valve and a main-output electromagneticvalve, said valves being connected in parallel downstream to said supplypump each having a valve opening terminal and a valve closing terminal,the opening terminals of said valves being jointly connected to the rowp stage output of said counter of the remote control unit, the closingterminal of said low-output valve being connected to the first stageoutput of said counter and the closing terminal of said main-outputvalve being connected to the output of another stage close to said firststage of said counter, so as to energize said electric motor and opensaid valves when a signal appears at the output of the row p stage ofsaid counter, to close said main-output valve alone when an electricsignal is emitted from the output of the stage close to said firstcounter stage, and finally to stop said motor and close said low-outputelectromagnetic valve when an electric signal appears at the output ofthe first stage of said counter.
 6. A device as set forth in claim 1,which comprises a computer disposed between said volumetric counter andsaid pulse emitter.
 7. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein thecounter of said remote control unit comprises a step-by-step motorhaving two directions of rotation, a rotary disc carrying displaynumerals and driven from said motor, a stud rotatably driven from saidmotor, and microswitches disposed around and actuated by said stud.
 8. Adevice as set forth in claim 7, which comprises a generator ofmonitoring pulses rotatably driven from said step-by-step motor, atwo-input electronic device having one input connected to the output ofsaid generator of monitoring pulses and the other input connected to theoutput of said pulse emitter driven from said volumetric counter, saidelectronic device being adapted to emit a signal controlling thestoppage of said dispensing apparatus when a lack of synchronism isdetected thereby between the pulses fed to said two inputs.